Photographic-printing apparatus



Mar: 20, 1923, 1 1,448,837. W. R. R. FRYE.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS.

FILED JULYIB. 1919. 2 SHEETSSHEET s,

O I 'MO 7 I 4 anwmtoz Wyat t RRFrye.

Mar. 20, 1923. 1,448,837. w. R. R. FRYE.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS. FILED JULYI6. 1919.

2 wins-SHEET 2- Patented Mar. 20, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINTING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 16, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVYArr RICHARD R. FRYE, a citizen of the UnitedStates. residing at WVashington, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in PhotographicPrintingApparatus, of which. the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for printing from photographicnegatives and means for timing such printing and has for its object toprovide a device embodying new and improved means, and the features ofconvenience, accuracy and speed of operation.

With these and other objects in view the device comprises certain novelcombinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are made a part hereof, andon which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a view of. the device in front elevation, certain partsbeing broken away to show mechanical features,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the timing mechanism set readyfor initiating operation,

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View through the timing mechanism asindicated by line 44 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the light box showing one of thevarious replaceable and interchangeable glass plates employed therein,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the device for hinging the printclamping mechanism,

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of the clutch for connecting anddisconnecting the timing mechanism with and from the print ingmechanism,

Figure 8 is a view in edge elevation of the clutch shown at. Figure 7,parts being broken away to show the bolt,

Figure 9 is a detail enlarged view of the adjustment of the pedal to thelink,

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring of the electrical system.

The improved printing device which forms the subject matter of thisapplication.

Serial No. 311,286.

is for use in printing from photographic negatives, either plates orfilms. It comprises a table 15 over an aperture in which a glass plate16 is located which may be the negative itself, if the negative is aplate, or may be a clear glass plate upon which the film is placed, incase of a film negative. Upon this glass plate the paper to carry theprint is disposed with the sensitive side downwardly. To maintain thepaper in proper position upon the plate hinged members 17 and 18 areemployed. The member 17 is hinged to the member 18 which in turn hingedto a block 19 carried on the table The manner of hinging to this blockis important, the hinge itself being shown in perspective at Figure 6and comprises a leaf 2O fixedly secured to the block 19 with a leaf 21hinged thereto upon the pintle 22. The leaf 21. held yieldingly upon theblock 19 by a spring 23. The leaf 21 is provided with an upturned flange24 abutting a similar flan ge 25 upon a leaf 26 of a hinge connectedwith the hinged member 18 by the leaf 27 pivoted to the leaf 26 by thepintle 28.

The two flanges 24 and 25 are pivotally connected together by means ofthe pivot pin 29 and limited oscillation upon such pivot is provided forby means of the rivets 2O engaging within slots in such flanges. Bymeans of. this oscillation and the spring 23 provision is made for anyunevenness of the device or the use of the device upon film negatives orplate negatives.

Erected also upon the block 19 are ears 31 to which are pivoted arms 32.The arms 32 are fixedly secured to the pintle to which is also fixed thearm 34 connecting by means of a link 35 with the pedal 36. Theconnecting means between the link 35 and the pedal 36 comprises an arm37 rigidly secured to the shaft 3-8 to which is also secured the arm 39.The arm 39 is connected by a link 40 with a lever 41 which in turn isconnected with the pedal 36 by the link 42 For the purpose ofmaintaining the pedal normally and yieldingly in raised position aspring 43 is employed connected with the lever 41 by means of a link 44.

The shaft 88 also carries an arm 49 pivoted to the link 50 which in turnis pivotally connected with the sliding bar 51 carrying a contact member52 n position to engage a fixed contact member 53 all so arranged that'poses.

when the pedal 36 is depressed the bar 51 is likewise depressed bringingthe contact member 52 into electrical contact with the contact member 53for the purpose of energizing lights employed for printing pur- To holdthe bar 51 with the contacts 52 and 53 normally yieldingly spaced, aspring 53 is employed with the necessary brackets and the like forlending efficiency to such spring.

The arms 32 which are actuated by the pedal 36 and connecting partsextend through slitted rods and. 56 the former carried rigidly by thehinged section 17 and the latter. by the hinged section 18. The arms 32bear directly upon washers 57 which in turn bear upon springs 58 so thatthe tension of the arms 32 upon the hinged members 17 and 18 is ayielding tension. Nhcn the arms 32 are lifted to the position 32 thehinged members are also lifted to dotted line position as shown atFigure 2 whereby the print or negative or both may be removed forreplacing with other like negatives or paper for printing.

For printing, a plurality of lights, pretera-bly electric lights, andstill more preferably, incandescent electric lights, are providedlocated in the box The box 59'is slidably located under the table 15 byproviding cleats 60 thereon, and may be covered by anylight-transmitting or transfusing device or plate indicated at 61, suchplate or device being when desired interposed be tween the lights andthe negative being printed from. The lights themselves are indicateddiagrammatically at Figure 10 and will be hereinafter more fullydescribed in regard to their circui s.

For the purpose of exposing the negative a predetermined inter-val oftime, a thin ing mechanism is employed capable of be ing set toextinguish the lights at any prc determined length of time after thelights are lighted by the depression of the. pedal 36. The timingmechanism is located at any approved point relative to the table 15 andmay be upon a shelf or brace 62 supported beneath the table top 15 bythe legs 63, although the exact location of the dc vice is immaterial tothe present invention. The timing mechanism comprises an organ izcdmechanism shown at Figures 3 and t and in the location referred to atFigure i. It comprises abase 6-1- secured to the sup porting structureand carrying two or more guide rods 65 spaced parallel above the base 64in any approved manner, as by the uprights 66 and 67. Upon these guiderods 65 a carriage indicated in its entirety at 68 isslidably mountedand isheld yieldingly in its position adjacent its supporting member- 6?by ine ans of afiexibleband 69 wound about a" tension "dram- 70 and"passing over a pulley or roller 71. Mounted also upon the structure is aconstantly traveling member 72, here shown conventionally in the form ofa sprocket chain it being understood that any moving member may beemployed instead of a sprocket chain. \Vith a sprocket chain employedsuch chain passes over sprockets 73 and 74, the latter of which isconstantly driven in any approved manner, as by the motor 75, which isconnected to transmit power to the shaft 76 by the use of any usual andordinary gearing, as for instance, the worm 77 engaging the gear 78carried rigidly with the pinion 79 which in turn engages the gear 80upon the shalt '76. The sprocket chain 72 therefore while the motor isencrgized is driven at a pre-determined speed. it is only necessary toconnect and disconnect the carriage 68 with such moving member for apre-determined space of travel to provide for timing. The connectionwith the travelling member 72 is accomplished by means of jaws 81 and82, the former of which is fixed to the carriage (38 and the lattervertically sildable with a spring 83 tending to hold the jaws yieldinglyapart. For closing the jaws into engagement with the travelling member72 a lever 81- is hinged at 85 and connected with the sliding jaw 82 bymeans of a link 86. It is obvious therefore that when the lever 84 hasbeen depressed from the position shown at Figure 3 to the position shownat Figure 4, the sliding jaw 82 will be moved into clamping engagementwith the travelling member 72 and will travel therewith until released.To maintain the clamping jaw in such clamping engagen'ient the jawmember 82 carries a spring depressed detent 87 which engages under arail 88 mounted to slide in the guideways 89 carried rigidly upon thestructure. The rail 88 terminates in its overhang portion at the pointindicated as 90 in Figure 3. it being understood that this point isvariable according to the position of the sliding rail 88. As thecarriage 68 moves with the traveling member 72 indicated by the arrow,the jaws are maintained in clamping position until the detent 87 hasmoved beyond the point 9i) of the rail 88 when there being no longer anymechanism for maintaining the aws in closed position. the jaws areseparated by the spring The lever 84 also carries an electric switch 91.which. held in closed position when the lever is depressed and openswhen the lever rises under the ac tion of the spring 83 which will beperfectly obvious from Figure 4:. When therefore the timing mechanismhas passed be yond the extremity of the sliding rail 88 so that it isreleased from the traveling member 72, we things occur in the opening ofthe jaw, one being' 'the' opening of the switch 91 for the purposehereinafter explained, the other being the releasing of the carriagefrom the travelling member 72 per mitting its immediate and automaticreturn to engagement with the supporting member 67 under tension fromthe drum 70.

To depress the lever 84 on the carriage 68 a bar 92 is slidably mountedupon the support 67 and provided with a detent 93 adapted vto engage thelever 84 when the bar 92 descends and to pass by such leverunobstructedly. when the bar ascends. To hold the bar 92 at itsupperlimit a spring 9 1 is provided. To actuate the bar 92 a link 95 ispivotally connected with the bar 51 at one end and at its opposite endwith the arm 96 upon the shaft 97. The shaft 97 carries a second arm 98which is connectedby means of a link 99 with an arm 100 carried upon theshaft 101. The shaft 101 carries an arm shown in its entirety at 102,which in turn is pivotally connected with a link 103 pivoted to the bar92 at 104. The component arm 102 is employed as a clutch between theprinting mechanism and the timing mechanism. This component arm 102comprises a member 105 rigidly attached to the shaft 101 while the mainarm 102 which is pivoted to the link 103 is free to rotate upon theshaft 101. The arm 105 carries a spring pressed bolt 106 adapted toengage a socket 107 in arm 102 and by reason of the pin 108 fixedlaterally in said bolt to hold the bolt out of engagement with thesocket when the bolt has been lifted against the tension of its springand rotated a part of a revolution so that the pin 108 bears upon thesurface of the arm 105.

For the purpose of adjusting the bar 88 conveniently a gear 109 ismounted in engagement with the rack face 110 of such bar 108 and isprovided with a shaft 111 which extends upwardly from such gear andcooperates with an indicator 112 mounted upon the top of the table 15.By turning the indicator to any desired or pre-determined position therotation of the shaft 111 and its connected gear 109 slides the bar 88upon its supporting guide 89 so that thepoint 90 .is at any desired orpre-determined position longitudinal of the timing device, whereby thehooked detent 87 slips off from engagement with such bar after anypin-determined length of travel.

For the purpose of adjusting the relation of the pedal 36 to the link 12for use by persons of different height or by reason of the adjustment ofthe link 42 upon. the lever 41, or for any other purpose, means isprovided for accommodating the pedal at "arious heights upon such link.This is shown in enlarged detail at Figure 9. It comprises a block 113pivotally secured to the arm of thepedal 36 as at 114 and provided witha recess for the passa therethrough of the link 42 which is provi d witha rack formed in its edge as indicated at 115. Within the block 113 alug 116 is located in position to engage with the rack 115 when suchrack is at one limit of its movement within the block 113. To move andmaintain the rack in such position a detent 117 is employed, pivoted at118 in the block 113 and provided with a spring 119 and a lever 120 foractuation and manipulation in an obvious manner.

For actuating the motor 7 5 and the lights within the box 59 an electriccir: uit or system of wiring is employed wherein a plurality of lights122, 123, 12 1. 125, 126, 127, and 1.28 are employed. it beingunderstood that the number of lights here indicated as seven isimmaterial to the present invention, the requisite being sullicientactinic action upon the printing paper. The light 122 is indicated as ared light or pilot light or light simply for properly positioning thepaper without being acted upon, the actinic rays being interrupted bythe red glass. This red light 122 is connected directly to the main linecircuit 129 and 130 and is lighted at all times when there is anycurrent in the system which is provided from any approved source ofelectric energy indicated at 1.31 with a master switch 132 forcontrolling th entire system. When, therefore, the master switch isclosed the red light 122 is lighted, and the other switches individuallymanipulated, as for instance, the switch 133 for controlling the motor75 and the switches 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, and 139 for controllingrespectively the lamps 123 to 128 inclusive. The action of the switches52 and 91 has already been described in conjunction with the appropriatemechanism hereinbefore described, an additional switch 140 beingprovided whereby switch 52 or 91 may be thrown into and out of circuitso that when the timing mechanism is being used the switch 52 will beinoperative and when the timing mechanism is not used the switch 91 willbe inoperative.

Preferably the lamps 122 to 128 inclusive will be located in the box 59with appropriate flexihle connection so that the box 59 may be slidablyinserted and withdrawn as a drawer and with the switches 134 to 140 alsoapprop iately located, preferably, though not necessarily, upon the box.or if found convenient, upon any part of the structure, the, locationbeing wholly immai terial to the present invention and wholly within theskill of an electrician.

In operation it will be understood that the master switch 132 and theswitch 133 are appropriately closed whereby the motor 7 5 is energized.Such of the lamps 123 to 128 as are found necessary for the printing ofthe exposed paper will be selected and their respective switches closedand the adjustable bar 88 moved by the rotation of the shaft 11 so thatthe carriage 68 shall. travel a de sired distance along the guidesbefore being released by passing from the point 90 Ol' the bar 88. Themechanism having been set at these required adjustments, the hinged.members 17 and 18 are lifted to dotted l1 -.e position (Figure 2), therequired negative and printing paper are placed in position, the pedalactuated by the foot to clamp the hinged members 17 and 18 down to fullline position upon the print. Depression of the pedal 36 closes theswitch 52 or the switch 91 whereby the lights prearranged by the closingof their several individual switches are siniultaneously energized andthe carriage 68 clamped to the traveling member 72. The device continuesto retain the paper in printing position over the negative and inposition to be acted upon by the underlying lights until the travel ofthe carriage along the bar. releases the jaws 81 and 89., which opensthe switch 91. The carriagereturns then under the impetus of the tensiondrum 70 and the actuation of the pedal opens the hinged members torelease the printed paper and the negative, it is to be rep aced. Thedevice is now in position 1? the next cycle of operation which corrcsids identically with the foregoing cycle.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, i

l. In a photographic printing apparatus the combination with an apeturedtable of members hingedly connected with the table and adapted to coverthe aperture, slitted uprights carried by the hinged members, springssurrounding the slitted uprights, a. lever inserted through the slits ofthe up rights and bearing upon the springs, a pedal, and meansconnecting the pedal with the lever whereby depression of the pedalclamps the hinged members over the aperture.

2. In a photographic printing apparatus the combination with anapertured table of members hiugedly connected and "oportioned to coverthe aperture of the table. a hinged leaf connected to one oi? saidhinged members and provided with an upturned flange, a member secured tothe table and )rovided with a co actine and abutting u 'i--. i c: V i.turned flange, a pivot connecting the two flanges permitting oscillationof the one relative to the other, and means for limiting the oscillatorymovement of the one flange relative to the other.

3. In a photographic printing enoaratus the combination with anapertizred .l I oi' members hingedly connected adapted to covertheaperture oi the leaf connected to and Xtending beyone. one of thehinged members and provided with rip-turned flange,- a member hingedlyand yieldingly connected with the table and pro table, a 7 hi ed ee-ass?vided with an up-turned flange abutting the up-turnedfiange of thehinged leaf, a pivot pin connecting the two flanges permittingoscillation of one relative to the other, and means for limiting theoscillatory movement.

l. in a photographic printing apparatus the combination with anapertured table of members hingedly connected and adapted to cover theaperture, a hinged lear" connected. with one of the members and providedwith rip-turned flange, a member hingedly connected witlrthe table andprovided with an lip-turned flange abutting the up-turned flange thehinged leaf, a pivot pin con necting the up-t-urned flange to permitoscillatory movement, means to limit the oscillatien, uprights carriedby the hinged members, a lev r operating in conjunction with the up):its, springs interposed between the: levers and hinged members, a pedal,and means connecting the pedal with the lever whereby the depression ofthe pedal clamps il inged members over the aperture.

photographic printing apparatus arising an apertured table, electriclights :osed beneath the table, an electric circuit controlling thelights, hinged members i for clamping a negative and a sheet of paper inprinting position, a pedal for simultaneously actuating the hingedmembers and closing the circuit, and adjustable timing means forautomatically breaking the circuit at a predetermined time independentlyof the clamping means, substantially as set forth. 7

6. A. photographic printing apparatus comprising an apertured table,members hingedly connected adap'ec to cover the aperture of the table, apedal pivotally connected to the table, means connecting the hingedcovering members and the pedal comprising a collar pivoted to the pedal,a link extending through the collar and slidably adjustable therein andmeans for locking the link to the collar in adjusted position.

7. A photographic printing apparatus comprising an apertured table, anelectric lamp beneath the aperture, means for clamping a nega ive and asheet of paper in print ing position above the aperture. a circuit forsaid lamp, a pedal for simultaneously and positively actuating said'clannaing means and closing the circuit, and an adjustable timing meanscomprising a reciprocating ca go for breaking said circuit at a medetermined time, substantially as set forth.

8. A photographic printing apparatus comprising an apertured table,members hingedly connected adapted to cover the aperture of thetable, apedal pivotally con nected to the table, a collar pivotedto the pedaland provided. with an inwardly lar and. providing a connection betweenthe pedal and the hinged members, said link having its notches adaptedto selectively engage the lug on the said collar.

9. A photographic printing apparatus comprising an apertured table,members hingedly connected adapted to cover the aperture of the table, apedal pivotally connected to the table, a collar pivoted to the pedaland provided with an inwardly extending lug, a notched link Within thecollar and providing a connection between the pedal and the hingedmembers, said link having its notches adapted to selectivel engage thelug on the said collar and a lever pivoted to the collar adapted to holdthe collar and notched link in selective contact.

10. A photographic printing apparatus comprising an apertured table,members hingedly connected adapted to cover the aperture of the table, apedal pivotally connected to the table, a collar pivoted to the pedaland provided with an inwardly extending lug, a notched link within thecollar and providin a. connection between the pedal and the hingedmembers, said link having its notches adapted to selectively engage thelug on the said collar and means for holding the collar and notched linkin selective contact.

11. In a photographic printing apparatus, a table having an aperture,clamping means hinged to the table at one side of the aperture andadapted to hold a negative and a sheet of paper in printing position, anelectric lamp under the table, a pedal connected to operate saidclamping device, a switch in circuit with said lamp, connections fromsaid switch to said pedal whereby said lamp is lit as the clampingdevice is operated and vice versa, means to hold the pedal down, meansfor automatically releasing it, and means comprising a motor operatedendless chain carrying a carriage for adjustin the length of time itremains in depressed position, substantially as set forth.

12. In a photographic printing device, a table having an aperture, anelectric lamp beneath the aperture, means adapted to hold a negative anda sheet of paper, and movable into and out of printing position over theaperture, a pedal under the table adapted to be depressed to move saidclamping means into printin position, a circuit closlng element adapteto be simultaneously moved by said pedal, means to hold the pedal indepressed position, adjustable motor operated means to automaticallyrelease said pedal, and a spring to restore the pedal and connectedparts to normal position, substantially as set forth.

13. In a photographic printing device, a table having an aperture, anelectric lamp beneath the aperture, means adapted to hold a negative anda sheet of paper, and movable into and out of printing position over theaperture, an electric circuit for said lamp, an adjustable timing switchin said circuit, a manually operated device connected to said holdingmeans and to an element of said timing switch whereby the circuit isclosed as the holding means approaches printing position, and means alsoconnected to the manually operated device whereby the circuit may beclosed independently of said timing switch, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Washington,District of Columbia this 16th day of July, A. D. nineteen hundred andnineteen.

WYATT R. R. FRYE. [L s.] Witness:

E. W. Bmmronn.

